SASE LEADERSHIP AWARDS

The SASE Leadership Awards recognize exemplary leadership and volunteerism, and celebrate technical accomplishments and advancements in the fields of science, engineering and technology. Through these awards, SASE honors organizations and individuals who have made impactful contributions to the global business world, academia, and their local communities.

This award recognizes a private-sector company that has demonstrated significant contributions to the scientific and/or engineering professions as well as a long-standing commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In the past year, this company has devoted outstanding support, advocacy and services to address the development and advancement of diversity with a focus on the AAPI community.

Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates that conduct business worldwide, the company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemicals and additives; generates power; and develops and deploys technologies that enhance business value in every aspect of the company’s operations. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

This award recognizes a public-sector, academic or nonprofit organization that has demonstrated significant contributions to the scientific and/or engineering professions as well as a long-standing commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In the past year, this organization has devoted outstanding support, advocacy, and services to address the development and advancement of diversity with a focus on the AAPI community.

Sandia National Laboratories delivers essential science and technology to resolve the nation’s most challenging security issues. Sandia, a multimission national security engineering laboratory, maintains the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Sandia addresses complex threats facing the United States through research and development in: supporting U.S. nuclear deterrence policy ensuring the nation’s nuclear stockpile is safe, secure, and effective; protecting nuclear assets and materials, addressing nuclear emergency response and nonproliferation worldwide; supplying new capabilities to U.S. defense and national security communities; ensuring stable energy supply and resources and protecting infrastructure; and integrating multidisciplinary efforts advancing the science of the possible for Sandia’s missions.

This award recognizes seasoned professionals with more than 25 years of professional experience who hold or have held executive-level management positions. Award recipients have made significant contributions to the growth and advancement of engineering, science, or technology. They are leaders within their organizations and display outstanding commitment to their communities through mentorship or support of other individuals in the STEM field.

Senior Director and Global Leader, Crop Protection Discovery | Corteva Agriscience

Vid Hegde, Ph.D., is Senior Director and Global Leader for Crop Protection Discovery for Corteva Agriscience™, responsible for leading all aspects of crop protection discovery to create innovative agricultural products and integrated solutions for growers across the world. Vid launched his career as a scientist in The Dow Chemical Company focused on pharmaceutical therapeutic areas. Later he joined Dow AgroSciences Process Research group, and following that, he had a series of progressive leadership roles within Crop Protection Discovery and R&D. Vid Hegde earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Temple University and completed his post-doctoral studies at the University of Houston.

This award recognizes seasoned professionals in executive-level management positions with more than 10 years of professional experience in their fields. Award recipients have shown consistent dedication and commitment to the growth and advancement of engineering and science through their engagement and contributions to SASE and/or the AAPI community. They are leaders within their organizations and display outstanding commitment to their communities through mentorship or support of other individuals in the STEM field.

Senior Vice President | Booz Allen Hamilton

Paul Chi is the Chief Technology Officer responsible for delivering solutions on behalf of multiple clients across the intelligence community. He is a thought leader in all aspects of technology consulting and IT solutions. Paul’s areas of expertise include computer science and engineering, radio frequency technologies, cyber, networking technologies, biometrics, data science, technical operations and targeting, financial intelligence, advanced prototyping, innovative and applied solutions, and non-traditional approaches to difficult and ongoing mission challenges. Previously, Paul partnered with the intelligence community, the Department of Defense, and commercial clients to develop solutions for signals intelligence analysis, all-source research and analysis, information security, and data analytics. Paul earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and is PMP certified. He currently serves on the board for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Chesapeake, a local affiliate of the National FIRST Robotics organization.

This award recognizes young professionals who graduated less than five years ago. Award recipients are already succeeding in their respective professions through significant and measurable accomplishments, have demonstrated the qualities of a leader, and are highly regarded within their organizations and communities. They are also active SASE Professional members or active leaders in the AAPI community.

Release Train Engineer | Chevron Corporation

Cassandra Chew, a Consultant based in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, is driving the digital transformation at Chevron in order to support a cleaner and more empowered world. While empowering the next generation of engineers as a Horizons Coordinator and developing the next pipeline of Asian leaders as the San Ramon Asian Employee Network Chapter Lead, she has given over 200+ hours of services as a Canine Enrichment Volunteer at the Dublin SPCA. Cassandra graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Management Information Systems and a minor in Psychology in May 2014. On weekends, the Texas native enjoys hiking through the Bay and mastering the many recipes from the food blog called the Woks of Life. www.saseconnect.org SASE MAGAZINE | 55

This award recognizes professionals in the private sector who have made significant and measurable contributions within their engineering or science fields. Award recipients have shown consistent dedication and commitment to the growth and advancement of engineering or science, and they are recognized subject matter experts in their fields or industries. They are leaders within their organizations and display outstanding commitment to their communities through mentorship or support of other individuals in the STEM field.

Senior Technical Fellow | The Boeing Company

John is currently a Boeing Senior Technical Fellow and a renowned expert in a broad area of Digital Engineering and Manufacturing. He has contributed to the development of many Boeing products including Space Shuttles, Space Stations, rockets, satellites, commercial and military airplanes, etc. Prior to joining Boeing, John was an engineering professor at the University of Connecticut. He is also a Registered US Patent Agent. John has authored 120+ technical papers/presentations, invented and patented many critical technologies for air/space crafts, autonomous vehicles, and engineering computing and data analytics, etc. He is also actively involved in community activities, and coaching/teaching STEM students.

This award recognizes professionals in a public-sector, academic or nonprofit organization who have made significant and measurable contributions within their fields. Award recipients have shown consistent dedication and commitment to the growth and advancement of engineering or science, and they are recognized subject matter experts in their fields or industries. They are leaders within their organizations and display outstanding commitment to their communities through mentorship or support of other individuals in the STEM field.

Mission Lead, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Missile Warning | Air Force Research Laboratory/Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV)

Dr. Wellesley Pereira serves as the Mission Lead for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, where he defines the Directorate’s strategic vision and long-term goals. Having led several highly successful programs paving the way for game-changing accomplishments in space and terrestrial remote sensing, he ensured that these become an integral part of tomorrow’s airspace. His teaching and research experience spans a variety of educational institutions and programs, bridging the gaps between the lab, industry, academia, and the classroom. His work has resulted in Fellowship honors, awards, and grants supporting our nation’s scientific cause.

This award recognizes professionals in information technology who have made significant and measurable contributions within the field. Award recipients have shown consistent dedication and commitment to the growth and advancement of information technology, and they are recognized subject matter experts in their fields or industries. They are leaders within their organizations and display outstanding commitment to their communities through mentorship or support of other individuals in the STEM field.

Senior Vice President | Booz Allen Hamilton

Munjeet Singh is a Senior Vice President in Booz Allen’s Strategic Innovation Group, leading the firm’s Digital Transformation Efforts. Leading a team of over 1,000 talented Digital transformation professionals, Munjeet’s team engages our clients to develop strategies and solutions to modernize enterprise cloud and data systems for mission critical capabilities powering this nation’s infrastructure and defense. Munjeet also directly oversees our Human Performance line of business, and is responsible for the activation of our nationwide immersive studio network. This is a cross-functional geographic team focused on the convergence of Immersive (Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality) Gaming and Cloud Architectures (Cloud Gaming). Prior to joining Booz Allen, Munjeet was the Infrastructure Manager at Nextel where he managed the development of the Business Continuity Planning (BCP) model, and systems engineering of over 2,500 mission critical systems core to the wireless telecommunication network.

This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and the advancement of AAPI professionals. These individuals are valued mentors and sponsors of AAPI professionals and are champions of success for our SASE members.

Chief Diversity Officer | Chevron Corporation

Leland (Lee) T. Jourdan graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1978. Serving his five-year post graduate military commitment, he reached the rank of Captain while serving as a logistics officer and paratrooper in the 18th Airborne Corps. Lee has been in the energy industry since 1983, a career that spans the regulated and deregulated landscape of energy commodities, including US domestic trading, transportation and LNG, as well as energy acquisition and divestiture projects. Currently serving as Chief Diversity Officer, Global Diversity and Ombuds Center of Expertise. Prior assignments in Chevron include Vice President, Commercial, Chevron IndoAsia Business Unit, which included commercial and business development covering Indonesia and the Philippines, and GM Commercial and Business Development for Chevron’s Asia South Business Unit which includes Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. After nine years living in Thailand and Indonesia, Lee now resides in Houston, Texas, with Diane, his wife of 37 years. They have three children and two grandchildren. Lee is an avid golfer, a published author, and serves on the advisory board of SEARCH Homeless Services in Houston.

Sr. HRM, Military Systems | GE Aviation

Suyin Copley is the Executive HR Business Partner for GE Aviation Military Systems. She has a breadth of leadership and functional experiences across GE Aviation, GE Transportation, GE Healthcare and GE Plastics over 31 years. She has been passionate about inclusion and diversity her entire career. She served as a national co-leader for GE’s Asian Pacific American Forum from 2010 to 2013. She was also a member of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Board as the association was being launched. Suyin holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and is Six Sigma Black Belt certified.

This award recognizes individuals who have made significant and measurable contributions to their communities through volunteerism. These individuals exemplify inspirational leadership and initiative through accomplishments such as teaching, coaching, organizing, serving on boards and committees, and other leadership roles. Their volunteer work has made a positive impact on the AAPI community.

Real Time Software Test & Project Integrator Engineer | The Boeing Company

Alyssa is a Real Time Software Test Engineer with 13+ years of experience testing Avionics Software for the International Space Station. Her role encompasses developing software verification test plans, procedures, and testing environments; executing test procedures; and documenting results to ensure software system requirements are met. She recently joined Boeing’s Commercial Crew Transportation System, CST-100 STARLINER Program, performing test validating the Flight Software (FSW) of the spacecraft, and serves as Project Integrator lead for the STARLINER Avionics and Software Team. Alyssa advocates tirelessly for diversity and inclusion through volunteering activities. Currently, Alyssa serves as the Boeing SASE Co-Company Focal.

Senior Manager, System Engineering Mission Operations | Lockheed Martin Space

Calvin Masuda is Senior Manager for Lockheed Martin Space System Engineering with over 37 years of engineering and leadership. His Mission Operations organization of approximately 350 employees across the U.S. help launch and operate space missions, including Satellites, Deep Space missions and other military and commercial needs. Calvin has a BSEE/MBA and is a long-time supporter to the LM PAAN (Pacific Asian American Network) BRG, and currently the Chair for the PAAN Mentoring Program. Calvin is married with two sons and a new grandson. He is active with the Boy Scouts of America and enjoys all outdoor activities and traveling.